Overview
- India Hate Lab documented 1,318 in-person hate-speech incidents in 2025, up from 1,165 in 2024 and 668 in 2023.
- About 88% of recorded events occurred in BJP-governed jurisdictions, with hotspots in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Delhi.
- Roughly 98% of incidents targeted Muslims, while anti-Christian events rose to 162, a nearly 41% increase from 2024.
- April saw the highest monthly total with 158 events, including about 98 between April 22 and May 7 following the Pahalgam attack and during India–Pakistan hostilities.
- The report identifies BJP leaders and Hindutva groups among frequent speakers, naming Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, Pravin Togadia and Ashwini Upadhyay, and linking events to VHP and Bajrang Dal; researchers used the UN definition to classify incidents.